A SURVEY OF THE WAR SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2798, 16 June 1916, Page 5

A SURVEY OF THE WAR SITUATION

SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH PRIME MINISTER FINDS "MUCH TO INSPIRE" By Telezraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. June 15, 8.30 p.m.) London, June 11. In the course of an address to his constituents at Ladylmnk, Air. Asquith (Prime Minister) gave a survey of the war situation, in which, he said, lie found much to inspire. 'I'ho Russians' advance was one of the most brilliant feats in the war. (Cheers.) The Italians, with their indomitable spirit, were resisting- daily moro effectively the Austrian onslaught. Nothing could exceed tho valour of our gallant Allies in maintaining the defence of Verdun. British assistance had been offered General Joffre, whose sound strategy would dictate •all the steps to bo taken. Every' action would have closely concerted consideration. The co-operation of the general staffs of all the Allies, said Mr. Asquith, wa9 becoming every month more intimate and more complete. It cannot be over-em-phasised that tho war is not merely a stiugglo between armies, but also of material and economic resources. Tho latter may well be tho deciding factors in the long run. The Matter of Our Armies. The Prime Minister alluded to Lord Kitchener's boundless devotion whilo serving his country from the first day nf tho war until the day of his death. It would bo impossible to forget it. He ivas tho embodiment of virile force and resolution. In the plenitude of his powers he had gone forth to his doom, leaving a place in our Constitutional lifo which nobody.else could fill. His memory would live as long as tho Empire. Ho bequeathed an array of armies, and it remains for us to make the best use of 'them in tho Allies' caus.e. Mr. Asquith paid a tribute to tho continuous and unceasing vigilance of tho Navy, and the effectiveness of. its blockade. The enemy's rashness on May 31 allowed tho world to see another moro stirring and more dramatic aspect of tho Navy's qualities. Tho.action was worthy of the best and most treasured' traditions of the Navy. The enemy was driven back. to its ports, mado no effort to grapple, with the main body of our Fleet, yet it had tho temerity to claim as a victory what was really a rout. A couple moro such victories and nothing will be left of the German Navy worth noticing. The crucial question was what was tho effect on our sea command. It was unimpaired, and moro firmly and unshakably established. , Ireland and the Empire, The recent deplorable rioting in lreinnd,. leading to the cruel loss of many innocent lives, had created a situation which the majority of responsible Irishmen of all parties realised demanded a settlement. The history of British and Irish relations in the past exhibited a tragic series of missed, nnd misused opportunities. Let us not add another. The desiru exists for an immediate provisionftl settlement. After the war we will take stock of our internal relations, ami necessarily the fabric of Empire will bo then refashioned, and British and Irish and British and Dominions ■ relations will bo brought in close and connected review. He commended that view to his countrymen of Britain and Ireland. Mr. Asquith continued: "I spent a week conversing with all sorts of Judges and Bishops and Sinn Feiners. Every Irishman, appreciated the folly of 1 tho inopportune rising; it would be greater folly to contemplate a renewal of civil strife after the war. History has not disclosed a more moving spectacle than the eager loyalty and unsparing devotion with which all, parts of the Empire have rallied to the' Mother' Country. It would never be possible, with such an.Imperial record to revert to old methods of government." "My Burden of Care," Mr. Asquith concluded: "It has fallen to me to carry a heavier burden of care and responsibility than any other fellow subject, but it has been a source of unfailing satisfaction to know that'l have been sustained by tho confidence and sympathy of those whom I am striv-in** to serve." When peace was established we would have to take stock as .an Empire of our internal relations. There was never a moro moving spectacle than .the profusion with which tho Dominions lavished their help on the Aluther Country in this war. They felt that the war had been waged in a just and righteous cause, but in the making of which they i i?° , vo ! ce - Australia antl New Zea- ,?? » S iv en us the now familiar word Anzac," a word which, for generations to come, would make our schoolboys thrill with pride. Canada had again been in *' 10 forefront oFthe battlefields m Franca and Flanders while General Botha and General Smuts had conducted Easterly campaigns in Africa, with tho utmost skill and tenacity, ' PRESS COMMENT ON THE SPEECH

ON THE THRESHOLD OP GREAT EVENTS. (Rec. June 15, 11.20 p.m.) London, June 15. The newspapers give prominence to Sir. references to the reconstruction of the Empire. Tho "Daily Telegraph" says: "Mr. Asquith evidently contemplates summoning a great Imperial Conference, which will frame the details of an outlined new Imperial constitution, on the lines of a supreme central authority, and the complete self-government of its parts. Now that the head of the British Government lias formally declared that tile tinie -has come to consider it, this gigantic problem will assume a new aspect, and the Irish problem will sink into its proper perspective." "Tho Times" says: "Mr. Asqnitli's statement will be received with deep satisfaction wherever tho British flag ilies. He sees that after this Imperial war, in which all the sister nations have lavished their Wood and treasure for the common cause, the old order must pass away. Never more can we invite the proud self-governing democracies to support us in wars in which they have no part in declaring." The "Daily Chronicle" says: "Mr. Asquith's words regarding a general Imperial reconstruction will carry the matter forward to a new phase." The "Daily Mail" says: "When the war is over, much more is needed than casual attendances of overseas Ministers at Cabinet councils or meetings on Imperial defence. We must pass in close and collective review the relations between tho Motherland, the Dominions, the Crown Colonies, and the dependencies. At present we have next to no unity, no machinery for co-operative action, no common trade policy, no visible organic alliance, no definite system of government." (■"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) The Irish Press is not hopeful over Mr. Lloyd George's proposals. Tho "Irish Times"" declares that settlement is not flosired in the most undesirable form. The "Dublin Express" says the proposals will settle nothing and unsettle everything. The "Irish Independent" describes as preposterous and outrageous a proposal for mutilating and" dismembering Ireland and perpetuating racial differences. The English Unionist Press is dubious. Tho "Pall Mall Gazette" says that it is a hesitating compromise. "Ulster will never consent to provisional exclusion. The outlook is not improved by the determination of the Irish Bishops to resist an independent Protestant community." The Liberal Press stresses the advantnees of an Imperial Conference. The "Manchester Guardian" says the Irish people would have confidence in the unprejudiced judgment of such a tribunal, I regarding it as a Court of Appeal.